Engineering mucosal RNA interference in vivo.

Mucosal surfaces serve as a gateway to disease. Here, we demonstrate that RNA interference can be used to manipulate mucosal gene expression in vivo. Using a murine model, we show that direct application of liposome-complexed siRNA mediates gene-specific silencing in cervicovaginal and rectal mucosa.

Altered expression of Skp2, c-Myc and p27 proteins but not mRNA after H. pylori eradication in chronic gastritis.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with increased gastric epithelial cell turnover and non-cardia gastric cancer. Cell cycle progression is dependent on the proteasomal degradation of p27, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and gastric tumor suppressor, following ubiquitination mediated by Skp2. c-Myc is a transcriptional repressor of p27 and also a target of Skp2.

Claudin expression in gastric adenocarcinomas: a tissue microarray study with prognostic correlation.

The claudins comprise a multigene family of integral membrane proteins, which play a major role in tight junction formation. Aberrations in the expression of certain claudins have been described in a number of malignancies. Our aims were to determine the expression pattern of claudins 1, 3, and 4 as well as ZO-1 in a large series of US patients with gastric cancer and to correlate expression with clinicopathologic and prognostic variables.

Claudin-1 is a strong prognostic indicator in stage II colonic cancer: a tissue microarray study.

Tight junction associated proteins are key molecular components governing cellular adhesion, polarity and glandular differentiation. Tight junction proteins also play critical roles in cellular proliferation and neoplastic pathways via their functions as couplers of the extracellular milieu to intracellular signaling pathways and the cytoskeleton. Neoplastic cells frequently exhibit structural and functional deficiencies in the tight junction.

Expression of uncoupling protein-2 in human colon cancer.

Purpose: Cancer cell survival depends on adaptive mechanisms that include modulation of oxidative stress. One such mechanism may be via up-regulation of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), a mitochondrial inner membrane anion carrier recently found to provide cytoprotection in nontumor cells by acting as a sensor and negative regulator of reactive oxygen species production. We hypothesized that UCP2 expression may be increased in colon cancer as part of tumor adaptation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor, c-MET, beta-catenin, and p53 expression as prognostic indicators in stage II colon cancer: a tissue microarray study.

Purpose: Through the use of molecular markers, it may be possible to identify aggressive tumor phenotypes and tailor therapies to treat them. This approach would be particularly useful for stage II colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to define the prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-MET, beta-catenin, and p53 protein expression in TNM stage II colon cancer using tissue microarray technology.

Effects of sodium butyrate and acidic fibroblast growth factor on TDC32300 cultured cells.

Background: Many studies have demonstrated that transition duct cells (TDC) are facultative liver stem cells. Our laboratory established TDC32300 cell lines with hepatic progenitor markers. The authors proposed that cell culture using sodium butyrate (NaBut) and acidic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF) may support the differentiation of TDC32300 cells along the hepatic lineage.